Tag Archives: competition

Vermont woodworkers: this is a no-brainer. Vermont Fine Furniture & Wood Products Design Competition is a great opportunity to gain recognition and notoriety for your work.

Calling all Vermont woodworkers and fine furniture makers. The 9th Annual Vermont Fine Furniture & Wood Products Design Competition wants YOU. The festival which has been dubbed one of Vermont's Top Ten Fall Events by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce is a great opportunity to gain recognition and notoriety for your work.

Join some of the world's finest woodworkers and furniture designers and compete for best:

Custom Studio Furniture

Production Furniture

Custom Woodenware and

Carving and Sculpture

There is also a special category where students and apprentices can compete. The Woodworking festival takes place September 29-30, 2012 in Woodstock, Vermont and the Design Contest entry forms are here. If you're not already linked into the Vermont woodworking community, we recommend you become a member of the Vermont Wood Manufacturing Association, VWMA first. That gets you a discount on entry fees and insider info on all things wood in Vermont. We hope you join with us, VWMA and the "best of the best" woodworkers who are letting the world know that Vermont's the Fine Furniture Capital of America.

So for woodworkers, now is the time to get involved. And for people who love wood and enjoy traveling through Vermont — be sure to mark your calendar for September 29 & Sunday, September 30, 2012. The festival and competition will be held at the Union Arena, Route 4-Woodstock, VT. It's worth the trip. Don't miss it!

In my mind, green businesses are our best chance to make America great again. NGOs (non-governmental organizations) are effective in many ways but they have to be funded by either government or business. Governments (both state and local) are so big, and bulky and fickle. They can help, but they're not really providing much leadership these days, are they?

So it seems to me the burden of leading an American renaissance rests squarely on the broad shoulders of business. In Vermont, businesses are small though. The average business has only a handful of employees. But that hasn't stopped all of us from trying to change the world… because we have a secret weapon. It's collaboration over competition.

Take, for example the Vermont Wood Manufacturer's Association, VWMA. This is an organization of over 100 small businesses in Vermont's wood industry that employ about 6000 people who produce wood furniture, bowls, toys, carvings, flooring, windows, doors and much more. VWMA's mission is to "support the industry in Vermont and promote its long-term viability by expanding members presence in the marketplace, ensuring a sustainable supply of raw materials, increasing workforce skill and acting as responsible employers and community members". All of us who produce wood products in Vermont need the services that VWMA provides us, but none of us could do that work on our own.

Organizations like VWMA are going to play a huge role in making America great again. Does your small business belong to an industry group like VWMA? If not, maybe you need to sign up and get a seat at the table. There is strength in numbers and the Internet has made collaboration pervasive and necessary. If you're not collaborating with the right people, you're being passed by. Don't get me wrong… Vermonter's aren't just collaborative. We're extremely competitive too, but we're competing against foreign imports that steal American jobs and wreck local economies. Join us. Let's get going! There's no time to lose.

Vermont is home to some of the best fine furniture makers in America, and indeed the world. Last month Vermont Woods Studios attended the annual Fine Furniture Festival and Design Contest in Woodstock, Vermont and it was bigger and better than ever. I wanted to recognize the winners and share a few photos of their work with you.

Brent Karner of Clear Lake Furniture was awarded First Place in the Production Furniture category for his beautiful custom wall unit with bookcases, media storage and a fireplace mantle.

Johns Congdon took First Place in the Custom and Studio Furniture category for his Alienor Writing Desk.

Mario Messina's Abacus Table took Second Place in the Custom and Studio Furniture category.

David Hurwitz's State of Craft Table took tThird Place in the Custom and Studio Furniture Category.

Congratulations to everyone on your impressive achievements! See more photos on our Facebook.

Vermont woodworkers of all levels are invited to apply for inclusion in these prestigious events by contacting Erin Sheridan at VWMA. The competitions will be judged Saturday & Sunday, September 25-26, at the Vermont Fine Furniture Festival at the Union Arena in Woodstock, where the entries will be on display. Everyone is invited to an awards reception on the evening of Saturday, September 25. Great prizes will be awarded for first place winners. We look forward to seeing all the entries. Hope to see you there.